An afternoon swim in an Ohio river turned tragic over the weekend, claiming five lives as reported by authorities on Monday.
The incident unfolded on Sunday evening at the Scioto River located in Powell, a quaint suburb of Columbus. The gathering took a turn when one individual ventured into the river for a swim.
“That’s when the tragedy began,” Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer stated during a press conference on Monday. Concerned companions quickly jumped into the river to rescue the struggling swimmer.
“My understanding is that initially just one person entered the river and began to struggle. Two others attempted a rescue,” Balzer explained. “Then, with those rescuers in distress, two more people entered the water.”
As the grim operation unfolded, authorities congregated at a makeshift command center following the recovery of the individuals who died while valiantly attempting to save a friend from the river’s swift currents. (Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos/AP)
At around 9 p.m., a “distraught” child with the group ran onto a nearby road and was spotted by a motorist who called 911. The child said his family was in the river, Balzer said.
First responders arrived and found two women, who were pronounced dead at a hospital, Balzer said.
The bodies of three men were found in the river on Monday, Tracy Whited, a spokesperson for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department, the The Associated Press. The identities of the deceased have not been released.
No boat was at the scene and it was unclear if alcohol played a factor in the tragedy, the sheriff said.
A boat sits moored on the Scioto River near Powell, Ohio, where multiple people died after several went into the water to help another person who was struggling to swim Monday. (Jay LaPrete/AP)
Two children under the age of 10 that were part of the group have been placed in the care of family services, said Balzer.
The sheriff urged the public to have safety devices like life vests on hand when gathering near bodies of water.
The 230-mile Scioto River is a popular area for locals and boasts fish populations of bass, saugeye, catfish, and carp, according to publiclands.com.
A section of the Scioto River shore is seen in Powell, Ohio. (Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos/AP)
The deaths happened days after five family members were killed in Utah after a flash flood swept through the region.